Powerful Conference Generates Record Attendance

On July 31, 2008, DEP’s Central District Director Vivian Garfein welcomed nearly 200 guests to the District’s 12th Annual Power Generation Conference held at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy co-sponsored the annual one-day event with much support from the Central District’s Air Resources Management staff. Topics ranged from alternative energy sources to carbon capture and sequestration.

The annual conference got its start in the summer of 1996 when about two dozen people, including regulators and representatives from Florida’s electric utilities, gathered to discuss topics of mutual interest and look for cooperative solutions to potential problems. During the ensuing years, the conference has grown in size and scope, as evidenced by the expertise and diversity of the speakers -- and this year’s 190 registrants.

Keynote speaker, Executive Director of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission Jeremy Susac focused on climate change, this year’s conference theme. Speakers from electric utilities, including Progress Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light discussed alternative energy innovation, plans for a solar power plant and conversion of older power plants to gas turbine generation.

Other topics ranged from the use and environmental benefits of landfill gas and wood-waste biomass as energy sources, the use of gas reciprocating engines in renewable energy, and regulatory updates from FDEP and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Presentations from both the 2007 and 2008 Power Generation Conferences are available by visiting http://www.dep.state.fl.us/Air/publications/powergen.htm.